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Cork footballers will start their defence of their division 1 title with a strong opener against All Ireland Semi Finalists Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday

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With every All-Ireland winner, plus two of the runners-up of the last ten years in the top flight, Division 1 of the 2013 Allianz Football League, which gets underway next weekend, promises to be one of the most competitive for a long time. There will be plenty of exciting action in the other three Divisions too as the battle for promotion places intensifies over the next two months.

It’s the 21st year that Allianz have been associated with the Leagues, making it one of the longest sponsorships in Irish sport.

Having created history by bringing the Division 1 title back to Cork for a third successive season last year, Conor Counihan’s men will be bidding to become the first team to win the League (Division 1) four-in-a-row since Kerry in 1971-74. Winning the treble was quite an achievement – Cork doubled it up with an All-Ireland win in 2010 – and they are again among the favourites to be challenging for Allianz League honours in April.

They begin their title defence against Dublin in Croke Park next Saturday (7.0), two hours after All-Ireland champions, Donegal and Kildare throw-in. It’s an exciting double-header to launch a campaign which will feature 116 games between next Saturday and the four Divisional finals on the weekend of April 27/28.
For the season opener at Croke Park top act Republic of Loose will form part of the entertainment bill on Saturday night which will also include a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the GAA’s ownership of Croke Park and a tribute to the late Kevin Heffernan.

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Clare’s rising star, Diarmaid Nash, who made it to his first Mens Open final at national level in 2011, when he lost out in a tie-break to Robbie McCarthy in the Irish Nationals Mens Open final, is the newly crowned Mens Senior Singles champion in Munster.

The Tuamgraney player has certainly been showing immense progress in recent times and added this latest ranking points title to his resume, to follow on from an impressive World 23 & Under singles title win in the Citywest Arena back in October.

Nash powered his way to the Munster final with a series of eye-cathcing wins, where he was forced to pull out all the stops in early rounds against some of the many rising young stars of the game in the southern province.

A 21-12, 12-21, 21-3 opening round win over Tipperary’s Fergal Collins was followed by another pulsating victory in the semis finals against World 19 & Under champion, Killian Carrol of Cork. Nash claimed victory there by 21-13, 15-21, 21-16 against the Mallow clubman and went on to claim the title against another world champion, in 35+ Singles Worlds winner Dominick Lynch, by 21-9, 21-12.

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Mallow Youth Centre hosted the Munster Scór na nÓg today with a full and comprehensive programme performing all the best in cultural entertainment. Both Cork and Tipperary had reason to feel satisfied after recording a hat trick of wins. Delight too for Kerry with two wins recorded.

The Munster champions are –

Rince Fóirne: Boherbue (Cork)

Amhráinaíocht Aonar: Muireann Ní Mhachain (Kanturk, Cork)

Ceol Uírlise: Clyda Rovers (Cork)

Aithriseoireacht: Gearóid Ó Gealbháin (St. Senan’s-Kerry)

Bailéad Ghrúpa: Newport (Tipperary)

Tráth na gCeist: Sean Traceys (Tipperary)

Nuachleas: Templederry (Tipperary)

Rince Seit: Spa (Kerry)

The Munster champions progress to the All Ireland Scór na nÓg Finals in Derry on Saturday, February 23.

Munster Scór na nÓg Finals

Mallow Youth Centre hosts the Airtricity Munster Scór na nÓg on Sunday with a full and comprehensive programme underway at 2pm. Qualifiers from across the province parade their cultural talents in search of provincial honours. The participating teams are –

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Clara are on course to become the third Kilkenny club to win the All-Ireland Club IHC title having overcome Tipperary champions Silvermines in an enthralling semi-final in Portlaoise yesterday. The sides were level ten times over 80 minutes with Christopher Bolger and top scorer Keith Hogan getting the vital points in the second period of extra time to finally kill off the challenge of Silvermines who looked likely winners during the second half of normal time.

Played in heavy underfoot conditions, both sides produced a gripping spectacle with the teams afforded a standing ovation at the end of the game. Clara began the better and were three points to the good after six minutes, all from the stick of Hogan, brother of Kilkenny centre back Brian. Silvermines soon settled with Daniel Keogh finding the net in the 13th minute. Clara again hit three points in a row, including scores from brothers Liam and Lester Ryan. Silvermines dominated the second quarter with Orrie Quirke, David Boland and Jason Forde to the fore as they led by one point at half time.

The Munster champions went two clear on two occasions in the second half but Clara never wilted with Conor Phelan and Austin Murphy getting big scores to keep their side in contention. Silvermines still led in the final minute but Hogan held his nerve to convert a long range free to send the game into extra time. In the extra 20 minutes, Clara had the edge, outscoring the ’Mines four points to two as their attention turns to an historic trip to Croke Park and an All-Ireland final on Sunday week.

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John Allen delivered a blunt assessment of his Limerick forwards following yesterday’s Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final defeat to Tipperary in Nenagh. The manager was desperately unhappy with the workrate of his frontmen as Tipp cantered to a comfortable 10-point victory. On top of that his charges shot 16 wides, 11 in the first half, despite wind advantage. And Allen had this message for his attackers: “Our forwards need to work much harder – that’s something we’re very aware of for the past year and a half. Our forwards as a unit didn’t work half hard enough today. When you’re allowing backs to come out and be able to pick out players with the ball, that’s not good enough.”

The sides were level six times in that first half but Limerick fell apart after the break as Tipp cruised into a semi-final meeting with Limerick IT. Limerick failed to register a score from play in the second half as leading scorer Shane Dowling scored 1-1 from placed balls, including a penalty 20 minutes from time. The Shannonsiders managed just 0-5 from play during the entire game but Tipp, in contrast, were in decent scoring form.

Brian O’Meara, Johnny Ryan and 2010 All-Ireland winning captain Eoin Kelly scored five points each for the winners. O’Meara hit four of his points from play, Kelly landed four placed balls while midfielder Ryan was deadly accurate from long-range frees and a second half 65. Timmy Hammersley, who has enjoyed a productive January, hit three points from play and sub Shane McGrath got in on the act with a quick-fire brace after coming on. This early season setback will concern Allen as Limerick meet Tipperary again in the Munster SHC semi-final in June.

The former Cork boss said: “We created enough chances to be ahead at half-time but we didn’t take them. At this level, if you don’t finish them, you don’t win the game.” Limerick, admittedly, were short a number of key players but Allen was refusing to use that as an excuse. “I don’t think any team can afford to be short key players but the fellas on the panel were getting a chance to stake a claim. If you’re there, you must be good enough to be there.” The teams negotiated tricky underfoot conditions, with Tipp edging 0-10 to 0-8 ahead at half-time. The second half was a procession for Tipp although Dowling’s penalty did reduce the deficit to three points, 1-9 to 0-15. But that was Limerick’s final score of the game and in the remaining 20 minutes, Tipp hit seven points without reply. Tipp selector Michael Ryan played down the result: “You don’t have high expectations from what you’re going to see here — it was a late January workout.”

BY the time this pair clash in the Munster semi-final on June 9, this seasonal opener in Nenagh will be no more than a tiny speck in their rear-view mirrors, but, winter or summer, the basic requirements are the same. Tipperary got most of them right, including converting a high proportion of their chances into scores, whereas Limerick were dismally wasteful, striking no fewer than 16 wides, 11 in the first half while playing with a stiff, blustery wind. It left them trailing (0-10 to 0-8) at half-time and facing a very difficult second half as Tipperary’s nicely balanced outfit set about impressing new manager Eamon O’Shea and his assistants Paudie O’Neill and Michael Ryan.

Tipperary won the second half by 0-12 to 1-1, keeping Limerick scoreless from the 49th minute. A goal from a penalty and a pointed free – both by Shane Dowling – were Limerick’s only scores in a second half where Tipperary maintained a high work rate and a clear determination to rack up an impressive score. It left Limerick manager John Allen very frustrated, as it might have been an altogether different scenario if they had been more accurate in the first half. “You don’t win games when you have that many wides. Some of them were down to very poor shooting – it was easier to score than miss. As well as that, we had two clear goal chances. Tipp created one goal chance, I’d say. You just don’t win games with 16 wides, “said Allen.

Seven Tipperary men shared in the scoring, with Eoin Kelly, Johnny Ryan and Brian O’Meara each landing 0-5 while Timmy Hammersley, a pre-match replacement for Noel McGrath, returned 0-3. O’Meara was especially effective, winning lots of possession on the right side and cutting in to help himself to 0-4 from open play before closing out the scoring with a pointed free in the final minute.

The Tipperary attack did especially well against a Limerick defence which featured five of last year’s championship defenders. However, they were under intense pressure as Tipperary built up an impressive momentum further back, an issue which Allen identified as something that will have to be worked on in training. “Our backs played quite well in the circumstances. A lot of the (Tipperary) scores came from further out. Our forwards need to work much harder – that’s something we’ve been very aware of for the past year and a half. “Our forwards as a unit didn’t work half hard enough today. When you’re allowing backs to come and pick out colleagues with a pass, that’s not good enough.”

Tipperary had no such problems. The application rate was high throughout the team and with Limerick misfiring so badly in the first half, it was clear from early on that Eamon O’Shea was on his way to launching his managerial reign with a win. He opted not to talk about it afterwards, instead delegating Michael Ryan to meet the media. “It was a good workout in late January – no more or no less,” said Ryan. “You don’t have high expectations of what you’re going to see on a day like this. You’re not going to get high quality and we didn’t, but we’re very happy with where we’re at. The boys worked hard.”

Tipperary were the more industrious side from the off, but Limerick gradually played their way into the game, out-scoring their rivals by 0-7 to 0-4 between the 10th and 27th minutes. Seamus Hickey’s driving runs at the heart of the Tipperary defence should have yielded more but some promising moves broke down on the heavy surface. Tipperary finished the half as they started it, scoring three points in quick succession to lead by two at half-time. “In the period just after half-time the game probably turned,” said Allen. “We should have had a point – Seamus Hickey came through and put the ball wide. Tipp got another score before they tacked on a few points which gave them a fair advantage.”

Still, Limerick looked as if they might launch a meaningful revival when Dowling whipped a penalty to the net in the 49th minute after Seanie Tobin was fouled. It cut the deficit to three points but far from being the catalyst for a Limerick surge, that goal was their final score of the day. It meant that they failed to score from open play in the second half, which was a reflection on their inability to win enough personal battles to trouble Tipperary. So then, Tipp have negotiated a safe lift-off under new management and will be encouraged by the convincing manner of their win with a weakened hand.

“With the whole colleges thing, we were very tight with numbers. We had only five useable subs out of the whole panel,” said Ryan. As for Limerick, the things-to-do list is pretty extensive, not least shooting practice. Some of their first-half misses were all but embarrassing, leaving them seriously wounded and easy prey for a Tipperary team that was clearly intent on putting down an early season marker.

The Limerick hurlers fell to a disappointing 0-22 to 1-9 loss to Tipperary in the Waterford Crystal Cup quarter-final on Sunday afternoon. This was a harsh reminder of the task that awaits Limerick on June 9 in the Munster SHC when Tipperary visit the Gaelic Grounds. It is only January and only the Waterford Crystal Cup but Tipperary eased to this 10-point victory. And, The Premier County men had more newcomers than Limerick on show in the quarter-final of this early season competition.

John Allen’s Limerick had 10 first choice championship players from last season in their starting team for this trip to Nenagh and all were in their accustomed positions. And among the subs used were Kevin Downes and Stephen Walsh. Limerick had a preliminary round win over Mary Immaculate College under their belts from the previous weekend but this was the first competitive outing of 2013 for Tipperary. Under the new management of Eamonn O’Shea, it was clear that Tipperary wanted to get off to a winning start.

There wasn’t an apparent gulf in class, but at the same time Tipperary appeared to take their scores with more ease, picked the right passes, offered the correct support runs and generally hurled with more ease then Limerick. Just like the win over Mary I, Limerick again hit 16 wides. While the forwards did find the range in that outing in Kilmallock, this time Limerick managed just five points from play in the 70 minutes. Eleven of the wides came in the first half when Limerick were backed by the strong wind.

But it was Tipperary that led 0-10 to 0-8 at half time. All looked okay after 13 minutes with Limerick 0-5 to 0-3 ahead. Two of the scores came from Gavin O’Mahony long range frees, while James Ryan, Seamus Hickey and Niall Maher accounted for the others. The positioning of Hickey at centre forward was the focus of attention for many. Certainly he hurled a lot of ball. Clearly his positional sense needs work if he is to remain in the attack, but he battled hard, won some nice ball and troubled the defence with his direct runs.

After these opening scores Limerick were to hit just another 1-4 in the remaining 57 minutes. The statistics show that’s a return of just two points from play in almost an hour’s hurling. Yes the conditions were anything but favourable, but it was likewise for both and the Tipperary control appeared sharper. It was this sharpness that saw them hit a purple patch before half time to snatch the interval lead. On the change of ends, Limerick were slow to resume and four successive points inside six minutes had Tipp 0-14 to 0-8 clear.

Already the game was looking beyond Limerick. Shane Dowling re-opened the Limerick account with a free in the 8th minute of the half. Then 15 minutes in, Sean Tobin was upended and a penalty awarded. Dowling made no mistake to blast to the net. That left it 0-15 to 1-9 with 20 minutes to play. But Limerick were not to score again – meaning they went the entire second half with just two scores and none from open play. While the Limerick defence appeared to hurl well at times, the pressure was too much and Tipperary tagged on scores at will to ease into the semi-finals against Limerick IT, who include six members of the current Limerick 39-man panel in their plans.

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Limerick in the Waterford Crystal Cup q/f at MacDonagh Park Nenagh on Sunday next January 27th includes 2 players making their competitive debut at senior level – Joey McLoughney of Toomevara and John O’Dwyer of Killenaule. The team is:

35 goals were scored in the 2012 Waterford Crystal Cup competition over 11 matches (an average of 3.2 goals per match). This contrasts with 23 goals in the 2011 competition over 10 matches (an average of 2.3 goals per match). In the first four matches in last week’s preliminary round of the 2013 competition, there were 14 goals scored (an average of 3.5 goals per match)

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, Clare (15 wins), Tipperary (13 wins) and Waterford (13 wins) have accounted for 41 of the 75 victories in the competition (55%).

Tipperary hold the record for the longest winning streak in the Waterford Crystal Cup since the competition began under that guise in 2006 when they won 10 consecutive matches between 2007 and 2009.

None of the five teams who take part in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship have a losing record in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006.

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, 70 games have been played with just 1 draw – the 2012 Limerick v Clare Quarter-Final after two periods of extra time.

The record of the Third Level Colleges in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006 is Won 20, Lost 42, a 32% success rate.

Waterford have won 8 of the last 10 matches in the Waterford Crystal Cup.

Clare are the only team who have won at least one game each year since the Waterford Crystal Cup competition began in 2006.

IT Tralee is the only team not to win a game in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006, losing their first match in the last 6 seasons.

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Fortunes fluctuated wildly in an intriguing All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final in Mitchelstown yesterday and both sets of fans will be happy to return for the replay, more than likely to be next Saturday. Both sides dominated at different stages but when the need was greatest the Kerry champions who, with a man down, came from four points behind, to draw in normal time (1-8 to 0-11). In the end though, Castleknock needed a late point from Ciarán Kilkenny to save their day. “I am just glad to get a crack at it another day,” said Kilkenny. “The ground was very heavy. We were very unlucky not to win it in normal time. Kenmare are a very good team. It was great football, it was pure football.”

Castleknock started well, converting a penalty from Rory Corcoran. However, Kenmare worked their way back through the outstanding Paul O’Connor and DJ Brennan to go in level at the break, 1-2 to 0-5. However, with the Kenmare wides tally growing and Castleknock’s Kilkenny, Jamie Tunney, sub Kevin Kindlon and Shane Boland prominent, they moved four points clear, 1-8 to 0-7. Both goalkeepers made decisive saves, and then with seven minutes remaining the odds were stacked against Kenmare when Kevin O’Sullivan got his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card. Incredibly they rallied with points from Brennan, O’Connor and two from the hard-working Mark Crowley.

Extra-time followed with the injured Stephen O’Brien introduced for Kenmare and Paddy O’Dwyer coming in to give Kenmare the full complement again. With O’Connor and Kilkenny trading points the sides were deadlocked again following the first period of extra-time, 1-9 to 0-12. Kindlon edged Castleknock ahead once more only to be pegged back by wing-back Aidan Crowley. Mark Crowley looked to have secured the winner a minute from time, but after missing an earlier effort, Kilkenny made no mistake to tie up matters for the final time.

Kenmare manager Pat O’Connor said he couldn’t ask for more from his determined charges. “We knew they wouldn’t give in. They battled away. There were several occasions when we thought it was gone from us. A draw is a fair result.” Of Stephen O’Brien who didn’t start because of a serious knee injury, he commented. “On medical grounds the boy should not be next or near the field. You are always caught between a rock and a hard place. He asked to come in because he saw that we needed him. He played his heart out. He had an operation seven weeks ago. I don’t know what the situation will be next week.”

* Before the throw-in, a minute’s silence was observed for former Dublin Kevin Heffernan who passed away on Friday.

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Finuge’s reputation has been built on the names of three men — Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Paul Galvin and Jimmy Deenihan. Since winning the Kerry IFC final in October, tales have spun up and down the country about how the current Kerry senior manager, the former player of the year and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht helped build, form and establish the club. It didn’t matter that the club won the Munster final without Galvin and Fitzmaurice. Clubs are built on names and used as sources of pride by their neighbours and diaspora alike.

But at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick yesterday they showed the country that the club represents far more than those storied names. Fitzmaurice and Galvin played supporting roles to the catalysts for victory — Paudie Galvin, Pat Corridan and James Flaherty. The wind and heavy rain had forced both teams into a type of possession obsession that enforces low risk passing strategies and the resultant half-time score of 0-3 was no surprise.

Maurice Corridan (two) and Paudie Galvin scores gave them an early two-point lead after David Maher raised Monasterevan’s only white flag. Michael Conway should have given them the goal their play deserved but Colin McCabe’s save gave his side a cause to rally behind. And when Fitzpatrick, who played for Kildare VEC in the Leinster final on Friday night, finally found the room to level. The Finuge management made sure the youngster’s influence was fleeting. “We had a look at him on the DVD from the Leinster final and he was their only scoring threat because most of them tended to carry the ball and he was a kicker. We spoke about him and the boys did exactly as we wanted,” said manager John Coleman.

But their biggest problems were in attack. Leonard Havens fired Monasterevan into the lead in the opening moments of the second half. Eamonn Fitzmaurice hit two quick-fire responses and a Flaherty score made them look like a team about to book their passage into the final but, with enough possession to make the game safe, they stalled. Lateral passing, misplaced kicks and critical turnovers riddled their play and gave the Kildare champions reason to believe they could win it.

“It was very worrying because we were in control 12 minutes into the second half and we kicked 10 wides in the next 12 minutes and normally you would get punished,” added Coleman. “Paudie Galvin, the wing back, just stepped up and kicked the score that just settled us.” Monasterevan tightened the gap once more through Havens but the Galvin score generated a focus which had been missing. Their big names followed the lead. The passes started to stick. They started playing like Kerry champions and Monasterevan faded. On a day when leaders were desperately needed, Finuge’s depth of game winners gave them the edge. “Credit to the guys, Eamonn [Fitzmaurice], Paul [Galvin] and Maurice [Corridan] are all All-Ireland medals winners and so is Pat Corridan, a junior All-Ireland medal winner. They just got a grip of the game when we were in trouble and their use of the ball was brilliant,” Coleman surmised.

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Another competition, another All-Ireland final for Kilkenny hurling, this time thanks to the exploits of Thomastown’s junior side. A couple of star-studded displays in the forward line put paid to a brave Kildorrery challenge in this semi-final played at a bitterly cold, yet dry Cashel. Full-forward and team captain John Joe Farrell led by example bagging 1-5 in a performance which left the Kildorrery defence twisting and turning in his wake while inside colleagues, Thomas O’Hanrahan and Stuart Waugh, grabbed a goal apiece and caused huge problems for the Cork rearguard.

Two of those goals came in the opening 22 minutes and proved to be the cushion needed by the Kilkenny champions, even though Kildorrery’s goal — just before half-time — looked like a game-changer after Eamonn O’Connor embarked on a mazy run before producing a perfect pass to Andrew O’Brien who buried. O’Connor was injured in a clash with Thomastown goalkeeper Dylan Walsh and the latter was red-carded, putting things on an intriguing footing with the teams level at the break.

However, despite being a man down, it was Thomastown who dominated the third quarter, scoring 1-4 without reply, before the sides went tit-for-tat for the remainder of the game. Kildorrery boss Tony McCarthy expressed disappointment at missing out on a trip to Croke Park. “To be so near a final, but so far, but the lads have been fantastic… There were lads coming down from Dublin and Limerick and Cork… doing all this for the love of the club and the little village.” His Thomastown counterpart Paul Treacy said winning the Kilkenny junior championship had been their priority, but then national prizes were in sight. “We’ve seen other Kilkenny teams do it before and we said, ‘why not’?”

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